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Brisbane Lions premiership player and former assistant coach Beau McDonald has been appointed as head coach of Western Australia’s AFLW State 18s to oversee the development of aspiring female football players and coaches.

McDonald, who will commence in the role of WAFC Coach Coordinator – Female Programs in January, will coach the AFLW 18s, oversee the AFLW 16s program and help to develop and mentor coaches in WA’s under 18s Rogers Cup competition.

McDonald, who played 91 games with the Brisbane Lions including the 2001 and 2002 Premierships and went on to work for the club as an assistant coach for three seasons, said he was looking forward to continuing his career centered around elite sport.

“I really enjoy being part of a team environment where everybody strives to be their best and I want to provide young West Australians the opportunity to achieve their goals and succeed under the high pressures of elite sport,” he said.

“I really enjoyed coaching WA’s North West Academy over the last two years and am looking forward to taking on a new role with WA’s best female football players and coaches.

“I think the development of the coaches in the female talent pathway is just as important as the players to make sure we are providing the best possible development opportunities.”

McDonald will join WAFC Talent Manager Female Programs Clint Degebrodt and Talent Coordinator Elly Lambkin, as well as newly appointed Talent Officer Kate Hartwell, Athlete Development Coordinator Scott Goodin and Wellness and Player Development Coordinator Juliet Williamson in a Female Football Talent team that has been expanded following increased investment from the WAFC and AFL.

WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker welcomed the new members of staff and said they would help drive WA’s aim of being the best State for talent development.

“It is great news that we have been able to make such high-quality additions to our program that will help us prepare quality players and coaches for both the State League and AFLW Competitions,” he said.

“I look forward to working with all of them to enhance our talent program and offer a best practice approach to female football development.”

The results of the elections for Commissioners of the West Australian Football Commission were endorsed last night, Wednesday 12 December 2018, by the Nominee Members of the WAFC (WA’s AFL and WAFL Clubs) at a meeting of WA Football stakeholders.

Current WAFC Chairman Murray McHenry was reappointed for a term of one year, Commissioner Stuart Love was reappointed for a term of three years, and Wayne Martin was appointed as a new Commissioner for a term of three years.

WAFC’s umpiring department “Umpiring WA” has received a boost approaching the 2019 season, entering an exclusive community umpiring apparel partnership with XBlades for the next three years.

The official community umpiring apparel partnership will give all Umpires in Western Australia online ordering access to their very own on and off field exclusive apparel range.

WAFC State Umpiring Manager David Crute sees the newly formed partnership as a great move forward for umpiring in Western Australia.

“We are excited to add XBlades as our official community umpiring apparel partner for the next three seasons,” Crute said.

“To have a leading exercise apparel company supplying our WA Umpires enhances our professionalism at a community level.”

“The ability to order exclusively online gives our WA Umpires easy access to a range of different clothing options and will also see umpiring benefit through a rebate program.”

XBlades Chief Executive Leighton Richards said XBlades was thrilled to be partnering with Umpiring WA.

“We’re proud to provide all WA based Umpires with an immediate solution for their apparel and we’re looking forward to working closely with the WA umpiring community and their leadership team to develop the high-quality products they need to excel,” said Richards.

"XBlades is all about combining athlete experience with scientific expertise to create durable, high performing apparel for long term success.

“XBlades products and technology will evolve with the game and we will strategically leverage our new networks to challenge the frontiers of innovation.

“We have been working with Umpiring WA over the last few months to bring major product developments across fabrics and design for apparel ready for 2019. The partnership is all based around being Umpire Led, Product Driven.

“To kick off the partnership we have put together a ‘’Before The Bounce” training pack offer. This offer is available to every junior and senior community Umpire in WA at a significantly reduced cost.”

The launch of the XBlades online apparel website will be going ‘’live’’ in coming weeks. Further communication to follow.

WAFL Umpires will continue to wear Burley Sekem as their match-day apparel in 2019.

Four new West Australian Football Commission Life Members were inducted at an official function on Monday, December 10 in recognition of their distinguished service to WA Football.

Induction to the WAFC Life Members’ Association is regarded as the WAFC’s highest level of recognition, distinct from life membership awarded by individual football clubs and associated bodies, and is awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding overall contribution to football in Western Australia.

WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker said the 10-team competition had allowed for a more even fixture, while still accommodating for traditional rivalries and feature rounds.

“All clubs will play each other twice in what is ultimately a fairer fixture for everyone,” he said.

Each team will have two byes and there will also be a general bye for a State Game against the South Australian National Football League on the second weekend of May.

The first week of finals will coincide with the AFL’s end of season break and see the WAFL Grand Final played the weekend prior to the AFL Grand Final.

Other 2019 fixture highlights include Easter Weekend games on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, a Thursday ANZAC Day game, traditional derbies on WA Day, and NAIDOC Round.

Baker said the fixture also aimed to achieve the best home and away flow possible for each club, while still scheduling traditional rivalry and feature games.

“We have been able to schedule the majority of games on Saturday afternoons, with 77 of the 90 games to be played in this traditional timeslot,” he said.

“Games on Thursday and Friday nights, Sundays and public holidays will also allow us to attract a different audience and hopefully encourage more people to attend games in 2019.

“We believe the final fixture is well balanced for all teams and thank the WAFL clubs and everyone else involved with the process.”

For much of Matt Priddis’ storied career there were doubters, and after missing out on the draft for a third consecutive year many would have given up, but that wasn’t the Priddis way.

The Brownlow medallist had to wait a long time for a chance at his childhood dream, a journey he believes prepared him for the challenges that lay ahead.

The WA Football Commission invited Priddis to speak to players from WA that unfortunately missed out on selection in the 2018 AFL Draft, with the 33-year-old imparting plenty of wisdom and key messages to the group.

The West Australian Football Commission and WA Football Media Guild hosted the annual WA Football Media Awards at Optus Stadium tonight, Tuesday November 27, to recognise the season’s high achievers both on and off the field.

This included awards for online, print, radio and television media, WAFL and AFL players and coaches, as well as special awards for outstanding service.

The West Australian Football Commission, in consultation with the WAFL Clubs and West Coast Eagles, has finalised details regarding Total Player Payments and Players Points allocations for West Coast’s WAFL team in 2019

WAFC Executive Manager Talent and Football Operations Scott Baker said West Coast would be required to adhere to agreed recruiting conditions in building their top-up list with the aim of being competitive without becoming too dominant in the WAFL.

Football fans have a chance to secure their own piece of Subiaco Oval history when an auction of timber bench seats and other items of public interest is held at the ground on Saturday, December 8.

The first lot of seats to be auctioned on December 8 will include 322 timber bench seats from the two-tier stand, which was constructed in 1981. These are the oldest remaining seats at the ground.

The benches will be available in configurations of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 seats. Full details of which seats are available in each configuration will be published on the Ross's Auctions website in the lead up to the auction.